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BS: James Herriot (Alf Wight) stories.
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BS: James Herriot (Alf Wight) stories. |
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Subject: James Herriot (Alf Whyte) stories. From: Rick Fielding Date: 08 Jun 02 - 11:36 AM About a month ago I started RE-reading my collection of Herriot 'country vet' stories, and my goodness, they're just as entertaining the second (or third) time around. I know a little about the "real" Herriot now that I didn't at first (that he was Alf Whyte, and the places, names, and situations aren't strictly autobiographical) but that cetainly hasn't lessened the 'personal' feel about them. So here's my question....did any of my Yorkshire or British Isles Mudcat compatriots MEET the guy? Any thoughts, stories, anecdotes, or stuff to share? Thanks Rick (from Toronto) |
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Subject: RE: BS: James Herriot (Alf Whyte) stories. From: Rick Fielding Date: 08 Jun 02 - 01:39 PM Hmmmmmmm.....thought I could at least remember the correct spelling of his name....(Wight) Damn, I hate making typos in Headers! Sorry about that. Cheers Rick I wighted the wong. (Spelling fixed.) --JoeClone |
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Subject: RE: BS: James Herriot (Alf Whyte) stories. From: katlaughing Date: 08 Jun 02 - 07:25 PM HeyaRickie! I thought someone, BilLSables, maybe? had mentioned knowing him once, but I canna find any references in the SuperSearch. I did find something related which I found interesting, this posting by Burke about the names of Herriot's books: Book tiles are changed between US & UK editions for marketing purposes. James Herriot's books had entirely different tiles... I'd really love to hear what his book title were in the UK. |
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Subject: RE: BS: James Herriot (Alf Whyte) stories. From: Noreen Date: 08 Jun 02 - 07:36 PM It shouldn't happen to a vet is the one that springs to mind, and All Creatures great and small (or was that the TV series?) Good stories, I thoroughly enjoyed them all as they came out |
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Subject: RE: BS: James Herriot (Alf Whyte) stories. From: katlaughing Date: 08 Jun 02 - 07:40 PM Thanks, Noreen. The tv show was All Creatures Great and Small, but over here that was also the name of the first book, followed by the rest of the verse for the subsequent book titles: All Things Wise and Wonderful, All Things Bright and Beautiful, and, The Lord God Made Them All, but I am not sure if I have the middle ones in the correct order. |
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Subject: RE: BS: James Herriot (Alf Whyte) stories. From: Noreen Date: 08 Jun 02 - 07:42 PM Bibliography here, kat, and lots about Thirsk (a lovely town and the real Darrowby). |
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Subject: RE: BS: James Herriot (Alf Wight) stories. From: McGrath of Harlow Date: 08 Jun 02 - 07:48 PM This site has a complete list of his books, with the titles used in England. The books came out individually and in omnibus volumes, so there are two sets of titles anyway.
And the site has some other interesting stuff about him, and some links that people might like to follow up.
A great storyteller in print - I'd love to know if he was as good at telling them orally. I think he probably would have been. |
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Subject: RE: BS: James Herriot (Alf Whyte) stories. From: little john cameron Date: 08 Jun 02 - 08:00 PM James Herriot Home Page |
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Subject: RE: BS: James Herriot (Alf Whyte) stories. From: Stewart Date: 08 Jun 02 - 08:13 PM Alf Wight's son Jim has written a good biography of his father - highly recommended - CHECK HERE. Cheers, S. in Seattle |
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Subject: RE: BS: James Herriot (Alf Wight) stories. From: Terry K Date: 09 Jun 02 - 05:37 AM I was born, bred and buttered not a million miles from Thirsk and can vouch for the accuracy of the settings, way of life etc - I found the books very evocative of life in those parts. Interesting that he actually came from Sunderland (completely the wrong side of the Tees) and later in life effected a Glaswegian accent - presumably on the basis that he'd rather be accused of being a Glaswegian than a mackem. cheers, Terry |
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Subject: RE: BS: James Herriot (Alf Wight) stories. From: Rick Fielding Date: 09 Jun 02 - 11:05 AM Thanks kindly JoeClone. There really IS something hypnotic and beautiful about Herriot's way of life. had I read the stories when I was young, I'm sure they may have had quite a profound affect on my career choice.......although I guess finishing school would have been helpful...then of course there would have been all that 'vet school' stuff....and getting kicked in the nuts by all that livestock. Maybe just being a rich gentleman farmer in Yorkshire would have been the best option. Cheers Rick |
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Subject: RE: BS: James Herriot (Alf Wight) stories. From: Mary in Kentucky Date: 09 Jun 02 - 12:38 PM When Hubby was in Vet school in Auburn, Alabama, the president of the AVMA came to the school to tell us about his trip to England to present Alf with the highest award given by that organization. They wanted to recognize his service to the veterinary profession by bestowing their highest award to one so beloved by all. Since Alf did not want to take time away from his practice to travel to the US, a delegation traveled to his home to give the award. I think they arranged a dinner at a pub somewhere and invited several of the "characters" he wrote about in his books. As an ice breaker, all the people started sharing pictures and stories about their families. Everyone said that he was just as genuine and down-to-earth as in his books and stories. (It's a popular saying among veterinarians, especially the large animal country vets, that Herriot was guilty of "plagiarism"! All the things that happened to him, happen to nearly any vet in any country. ;-) Hardly a day goes by that we don't recount some story about farmers or animals as was described in one of Herriot's books. Human nature is certainly universal. And the love of animals is an important part of many of our lives.) |
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Subject: RE: BS: James Herriot (Alf Wight) stories. From: Terry K Date: 09 Jun 02 - 05:51 PM Yes Mary, it pays not to confuse the vet with the author - hardly plagiarism though - if a tale's worth telling and all that!! Terry |
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Subject: RE: BS: James Herriot (Alf Wight) stories. From: Terry K Date: 09 Jun 02 - 05:52 PM Yes Mary, it pays not to confuse the vet with the author - hardly plagiarism though - if a tale's worth telling and all that!! Terry |
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Subject: RE: BS: James Herriot (Alf Wight) stories. From: Terry K Date: 09 Jun 02 - 06:16 PM sorry, didn't mean to tell that particular tale twice! |